National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda X-linked



X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda is an inherited skeletal disorder that  affects males only. Physical characteristics include moderate short-stature (dwarfism); moderate to severe spinal deformities; barrel-chest; disproportionately short trunk and neck; disproportionately long arms, and premature osteoarthritis, especially in the hip joints. Final male adult height ranges from 4 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 6 inches.[1][2] Other skeletal features of this condition include decreased mobility of the elbow and hip joints, arthritis, and abnormalities of the hip joint which causes the upper leg bones to turn inward. This condition is caused by mutations in the TRAPPC2 gene and is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern.[2]
Last updated: 5/10/2011

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Arthralgia
Joint pain
0002829
Barrel-shaped chest
Barrel chest
0001552
Coxa vara 0002812
Disproportionate short-trunk short stature
Disproportionate short-trunked dwarfism
Disproportionate short-trunked short stature
Short-trunked dwarfism
[ more ]
0003521
Hip osteoarthritis 0008843
Hump-shaped mound of bone in central and posterior portions of vertebral endplate 0004594
Hypoplasia of the capital femoral epiphysis
Small innermost thighbone end part
Underdevelopment of the innermost thighbone end part
[ more ]
0003090
Hypoplastic iliac wing 0002866
Irregular epiphyses
Irregular end part of long bone
0010582
Kyphosis
Hunched back
Round back
[ more ]
0002808
Limitation of joint mobility
Decreased joint mobility
Decreased mobility of joints
Limited joint mobility
Limited joint motion
[ more ]
0001376
Lumbar hyperlordosis
Excessive inward curvature of lower spine
0002938
Opacification of the corneal stroma 0007759
Platyspondyly
Flattened vertebrae
0000926
Scoliosis 0002650
Shield chest 0000914
Short femoral neck
Short neck of thighbone
0100864
Short neck
Decreased length of neck
0000470
Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia 0002655
X-linked recessive inheritance 0001419
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

This condition is caused by mutations in the TRAPPC2 gene (sometimes called the SEDL gene), which is located on the X chromosome. The TRAPPC2 gene provides instructions for producing a protein called sedlin. The function of this protein is unclear. Researchers believe that sedlin is part of a larger protein complex, which helps transport proteins between various cell organelles. Mutations in TRAPPC2 affect how the sedlin protein is made, which ultimately affects bone growth.[2]
Last updated: 5/10/2011

This condition is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern. A condition is considered X-linked if the mutated gene that causes the disorder is located on the X chromosome, one of the two sex chromosomes. In X-linked recessive inheritance, a female with one mutated copy of the gene in each cell is called a carrier. She can pass on the altered gene, but usually does not experience signs and symptoms of the disorder. However, mild symptoms of osteoarthritis have been reported in female carriers of X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda.[2]
Last updated: 5/10/2011

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Many affected individuals require joint replacement surgery (hip, knee, shoulder) or spine surgery (correction of scoliosis or kyphosis). Hip replacement is often required as early as 30 years of age. Chronic pain management is standard and often required before or after surgery. Affected individuals should be regularly followed by a professional familiar with this condition for the development of joint pain and scoliosis.[3]
Last updated: 5/10/2011

Affected males usually show signs and symptoms of this condition between 5 and 10 years of age. Progressive joint and back pain usually increases with age. The hips, knees, and shoulder joints are commonly involved to variable degrees. The joints in the hands and feet are usually not affected. Given the skeletal and joint abnormalities seen in this condition, affected individuals are often advised to avoid activities that place undue stress on the spine and weight-bearing joints.[3] Affected males appear to have a normal lifespan and intelligence. Normal motor and cognitive milestones are usually achieved.[2]
Last updated: 5/10/2011

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources


Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • The U.S. National Institutes of Health, through the National Library of Medicine, developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and members of the public with current information on clinical research studies. There is a study titled Evaluation and Treatment of Skeletal Diseases which may be of interest to you.

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda X-linked. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda X-linked:
    International Skeletal Dysplasia Registry (ISDR)
     

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Organizations Providing General Support


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda X-linked. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • GeneReviews provides current, expert-authored, peer-reviewed, full-text articles describing the application of genetic testing to the diagnosis, management, and genetic counseling of patients with specific inherited conditions.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda X-linked. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
  • Medscape Reference has information on spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia in general. You may need to register to view this medical reference, but registration is free.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Tiller GE. Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Tarda. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). December 2010; http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdbdetail_abstract.html?disname=Spondyloepiphyseal%20Dysplasia%20Tarda. Accessed 5/10/2011.
  2. X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda. Genetics Home Reference (GHR). June 2008; http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/x-linked-spondyloepiphyseal-dysplasia-tarda. Accessed 5/10/2011.
  3. Tiller GE, Hannig VL. X-linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda. GeneReviews. February 2011; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1145/. Accessed 5/10/2011.